NFL Draft: The Browns go for Brown at No. 1

Courtney Brown may line up on the outside of the defensive line, but the Cleveland Browns feel he's the perfect hub to anchor their defense for the next decade.

Cleveland made that much clear Saturday when it selected the standout Penn State defensive end with the first pick of the 2000 NFL Draft.

One year after tabbing quarterback Tim Couch to build their offense around, the Browns feel they established a great defensive foundation with Brown's selection.

"Last year in the draft we found the cornerstone of our offense," Cleveland coach Chris Palmer said. "Now, with the addition of Courtney Brown, we feel we have one on defense. We are just very, very proud to have him."

The choice of Brown wasn't without debate within the Cleveland hierarchy, though, as Cleveland weighed Brown against his Penn State teammate, linebacker LaVar Arrington.

In the end, Brown's total package of athletic ability, production and character swung the decision in his favor.

"When you start studying the film, and I don't want to take anything away from LaVar Arrington because he's a very good football player, but you look at the film and you see Courtney Brown being double- and triple-teamed and he's still making play after play after play," said Palmer. "You look at it and you say to yourself, 'This guy has a chance to be very, very good.' You cannot single block him because he has an influence on what is going to happen in the game."

"We felt there was very little difference between the two players," said Browns director of football operations Dwight Clark. "They are two great players, two playmakers who can both rush the passer. One plays defensive end and the other is a linebacker.

"When it came down to the overriding decision, it was about the position. One could rush the passer every down and we felt like that was a better fit for us."

Washington snatched up Arrington with the second choice before picking Alabama offensive tackle Chris Samuels with the No. 3 pick.

With their second round choice, the 32nd overall, Cleveland chose Arizona wideout Dennis Northcutt. The Browns followed that by selecting Miami (OH) running back Travis Prentice (No. 63 overall) and Tulane receiver JaJuan Dawson (No. 79) with their two third-round picks.

Just as last year with Couch, Cleveland reached a contract agreement with Brown before submitting their choice to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

"There is no question in my mind that having the player basically under contract before the selection is made is a critical position to place yourself in," said Browns president Carmen Policy. "That young man is going to come here and meet all (the media) and from the moment he stands here, he is a Cleveland Brown.

"It paid off for Tim Couch last year and I think it is going to pay off very significantly for Courtney Brown."

Brown's 6-year deal is worth a reported ??-million, and while its overall value is less than Couch's, the agreement will pay him more in the first three years.

After arriving in Cleveland later Saturday afternoon, Brown lived up to his reputation as a man of few words.

"The last couple days have been very exciting," said Brown, who will graduate this spring with a degree in intergrative arts and computer graphics. "There's been a lot of uncertaintity surrounding (the draft) and it's nice to finally have it settled. Now I can concentrate on starting the learning process and getting acclimated to the pro game.

"I've been very fortunate to come to a program like this and be able to play football. I'll come in and do my very best to try to help the team out the best way I can."

Brown's rise to the No. 1 pick came after he enjoyed a stellar career at Penn State.

A unanimous first-team All-American selection after the 1999 season, Brown finished as the Nittany Lions' career leader in sacks (33) and tackles for loss (70). He was the Big 10's defensive player of the year last year after finishing with 13 1-2 sacks and a school single-season record 29 stops for losses.

"I promised Keith McKenzie when we signed him that he would have the opportunity to be an every down player and that has not changed," said Palmer, who envisions Brown competing with McKenzie at right defensive end. "The thing that I think is encouraging is that we can put those three players on the field at the same time in passing situations.

"I think we can put some weight on him and eventually he could grow into a left defensive end. I don't know how much weight, though, because we don't want to lose that great speed that he brings to the table. If you look at the great defensive teams in the history of the game, they all had great speed. The speed he brings will greatly help us."

At 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, Brown has the frame to carry 10-15 more pounds. He also has a rare package of size, speed and athleticism for a defensive end, having recently been timed in the mid 4.5s over 40 yards. Those attributes have led some to compare him to former Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith, now with Washington.

"Bruce Smith is an awesome player and Courtney Brown has some of those attributes that would put him on the same plane," said Clark. "He's got tons of potential and all the athletic ability in the world, it's just up to him to take it to whatever level he wants to."